Deputy Uncovers Potential Abuses in Kazakh Public Procurement, Calls for Reforms
A deputy from the AMANAT faction, Bolatbek Nazhmetdinuly, has submitted a parliamentary inquiry to Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov. The inquiry focuses on the efficiency of public and quasi-public procurement spending, particularly regarding large construction projects.
Nazhmetdinuly's investigation revealed that while projects are officially listed as employing Kazakh workers, there's a lack of specific names or details about these workers. This raises concerns about potential underpayment and inadequate inclusion in tax and social security systems.
The deputy has urged the government to take several steps to address these issues. These include amending procurement rules, conducting audits, developing a monitoring system, and introducing personal accountability. The annual total volume of regulated procurements in Kazakhstan reaches 30 trillion tenge, highlighting the significance of these reforms.
Some companies have been accused of claiming to deliver large-scale projects with minimal official staffing. This has led to questions about actual employment figures and the real number of workers involved. Additionally, the declared priority for domestic content in procurement is often not reflected in reality, with foreign workers performing the actual work and taxes bypassing the budget.
The use of unregistered workers, including foreign laborers, results in lost tax revenues, unpaid pension contributions, and lack of social insurance coverage. Nazhmetdinuly's inquiry aims to ensure that 'every budget tenge must work for our citizens, their families, and the future of the country.' The government is expected to address these concerns and implement the recommended reforms.
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